Her Royal Highness The Infanta Pilar of Spain, Duchess of Badajoz, Dowager Viscountess de la Torre celebrates her 80th birthday on July 30th. The elder sister of former King Juan Carlos was born in Cannes, France during the exile of the Spanish Royal Family and is the elder daughter of Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona and Princess María de las Mercedes de Borbón. Her baptism also took place in Cannes … Continue reading →

On April 20th, 1176 Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke – who is more commonly known by his nickname ‘Strongbow’ – died in Dublin. Strongbow is best remembered for his pivotal role in the Norman Invasion of Ireland. It is believed that Richard de Clare was born around 1130 in Tonbridge, Kent and was the eldest son of Gilbert de Clare, 1st Earl of Pembroke and Isabel de Beaumont. The de … Continue reading →

The recent discovery, identification and reburial of the remains of Richard III of England has given fresh interest in search for the remains of several Kings of England whose remains are currently missing. We will start this series with King Henry I of England, who reigned from 1100 until his death in 1135. Henry was born in 1068 and was a younger son of William the Conqueror and Matilda of … Continue reading →

Prince Albert II and Princess Charlène of Monaco presided over the 2014 Monaco Red Cross Ball on August 1st. The gala ball is a summer highlight of the Monegasque Princely Family and took place at Monaco’s Sporting Club Salle des Etoiles. The star-studded charitable event raises funds for the Principality of Monaco’s Red Cross fund and was founded in 1948 by the late Prince Rainier III. A radiant Princess Charlène … Continue reading →

Princess Charlène of Monaco’s Irish ancestry was revealed yesterday. The Princess accompanied by her husband, Prince Albert II, was presented with a Certificate of Irish Heritage by the Irish Ambassador to France yesterday at a reception at the Princes Palace of Monaco. The certificate is official recognition by the Irish Government for people with Irish ancestry. The Princess’s Fagan ancestors were a very successful family in the city of Dublin in the 16th-17th centuries. Of … Continue reading →

Infanta Pilar of Spain, Duchess of Badajoz, Grandee of Spain, Dowager Viscountess de la Torre turned 78 years old on July 30. The Infanta is the elder sister of King Juan Carlos of Spain, and also has a younger sister, Infanta Margarita. She is thus a paternal aunt of the current Spanish King, Felipe VI. Infanta Pilar was born in Cannes, France in 1936 during the exile of the Spanish … Continue reading →

Princess Alexandra of Hanover turned 15 years of age on July 20th. The Princess is the only daughter of Ernst August, Prince of Hanover and Caroline, Hereditary Princess of Monaco. Princess Alexandra was born in Vöcklabruck, Austria in 1999. The infant Princess was baptised with the names Alexandra Charlotte Ulrike Maryam Virginia in a Lutheran ceremony in September 1999. Her godparents included her half-sister, Charlotte Casiraghi, and her father’s sister … Continue reading →

His Excellency, Don Felipe Juan de Marichalar y Borbón celebrated his 16th birthday on July 17th. Born in 1998, he is the eldest son of Infanta Elena of Spain and Don Jaime de Marichalar and is currently fourth in the Line of succession to the Spanish Throne. Don Felipe Juan was baptised in October 1998 and was named in honour of his uncle King Felipe and great grandfather, Infante Juan Count of … Continue reading →

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain paid a one-day introductory visit to neighbouring Portugal on July 7th. Following on from their recent visit to the Vatican, the Spanish King and Queen arrived at the military airport Figo Maduro near Lisbon and were greeted by the the Spanish Ambassador to the Portuguese Republic. After the greeting ceremony, the King and Queen moved onto the Belém Palace, where they were warmly … Continue reading →

For the month of June, I have chosen Jeanne d’Albret as my feature royal. Though largely a forgotten historical figure, Jeanne III of Navarre was a major power player during the dying days of the French Valois Dynasty. Jeanne d’Albret was born at the Chateau de Pau on January 7, 1528, the daughter of Marguerite d’Angoulême and Henri II of Navarre. Her mother was the only sister of King François I of … Continue reading →

The extended Princely Family of Monaco and their partners gathered en masse at the Monaco Yacht Club earlier today, for the official opening of the new building of the Yacht Club de Monaco. Present were Prince Albert II and Princess Charlène, Princess Caroline, Princess Alexandra, Andrea Casiraghi and Tatiana Santo Domingo, Pierre Casiraghi and Beatrice Borromeo, Charlotte Casiraghi and Gad Elmaleh, Baroness Elisabeth-Anne de Massy and her daughter Mélanie. However, … Continue reading →

Following the abdication ceremony for King Juan Carlos yesterday at the Palacio Real in Madrid, his successor Felipe VI was proclaimed King this morning in Madrid. In a modest show of pomp and in glorious sunshine, the King accompanied by Queen Letizia and their two daughters, Leonor and Sofia, left the Zarzuela Palace following a family photoshoot. The Royal Family – who were escorted by an impressive military escort – arrived at the Spanish … Continue reading →

His Majesty King Juan Carlos I of Spain accompanied by Her Majesty Queen Sofia hosted a Luncheon for members of the Spanish Government yesterday at the Zarzuela Palace in Madrid. This luncheon marked the last Official act by Their Majesties as King & Queen of Spain. Attending yesterdays luncheon were the Spanish Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, President of the Senate Pio Garcia Escudero, President of the Constitutional Court, Francisco Pérez … Continue reading →

Seeing as King Juan Carlos will formally abdicate the Spanish throne after a long reign tomorrow, the blog has decided to look back at his accession ceremonies which took place in 1975. On November 22, 1975 following the death of General Franco, Don Juan Carlos de Borbón was proclaimed King of Spain. The proclamation ceremony took place at the Spanish Cortes (Parliament), where the new Queen Sofia and the couple’s … Continue reading →

The Spanish-born widow of the late beloved King Baudouin of Belgium was born in Madrid, Spain on June 11, 1928. Queen Fabiola was the fourth daughter of the Marquess of Casa Riera. Her godmother was none other than Queen Victoria Eugenia of Spain. Doña Fabiola de Mora’s family were close to the Spanish Royal Family and in her youth, Fabiola was a lady in waiting to the Infanta Pilar of … Continue reading →

The President of Mexico, Enrique Peña Nieto, accompanied by his wife, Angélica Rivera, began a state visit to the Kingdom of Spain on Monday June 9th. The King and Queen presided over the official welcoming ceremony at the El Pardo Palace in Madrid. Following this, the President and First Lady travelled the short distance to the Zarzuela Palace, where the King and Queen hosted a luncheon. They were joined by … Continue reading →

The King and Queen of Spain were accompanied by the Prince and Princess of Asturias to preside over the Day of the Armed Forces ceremony in Madrid on June 8th. This very solemn military ceremony is a tribute to all fallen soldiers on Armed Forces Day and this year took place on the Plaza de la Lealtad in Madrid. The Plaza de la Lealtad also houses the Spanish War Memorial … Continue reading →

King Albert II of Belgium celebrated his 80th birthday yesterday, June 6th. The former Belgian Monarch was born at Chateau Stuyvenberg in 1934, the second son of King Leopold III of the Belgians and Princess Astrid of Sweden. The infant Prince of Liège was christened Albert Félix Humbert Théodore Christian Eugène Marie with his godparents being Prince Felix of Bourbon-Parma and Queen Elisabeth of Belgium. Tragedy struck on the August 29th, 1935, … Continue reading →

Princess Astrid of Belgium, Archduchess of Austria-Este celebrates her 52nd birthday on June 5th. The Princess is the only sister of King Philippe of Belgium and was born in 1962, the second child and only daughter of the future King Albert II and Queen Paola. The Princess was named in honour of her father’s mother, the tragic Astrid of Sweden, who was killed in 1935. The Princess was baptised Astrid Josephine Charlotte … Continue reading →

Doña Irene Urdangarín, the youngest child and only daughter of Infanta Cristina of Spain and Don Iñaki Urdangarín, Duke of Palma de Mallorca, turned nine today. Doña Irene is the sixth grandchild of King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia, and was born in Barcelona in 2005. Her baptism took place at the Chapel of the Palace of Zarzuela in July 2005, where she was given the name Irene in … Continue reading →